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Big bunny George makes his mark on Dragons

Ian McCullough

Sam Burgess has been terrorising NRL defences for the last three years and younger brother George could be lining up alongside him in round one after an impressive display against St George Illawarra in Friday's Charity Shield.

The giant 20-year-old played three first-grade games at the end of last season and was given an extended run off the bench against the Dragons where he impressed with his hard-running in Souths' 28-10 win at ANZ Stadium.

His presence won't be forgotten in a hurry by Dragons hookers Mitch Rein and Cameron King who both came off second-best to the 118kg Yorkshireman.

Rein went off with a shoulder injury sustained when he got in the wrong position when trying to tackle Burgess.

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Minutes later King was stretchered off with concussion after he was knocked out by Burgess' upper arm when diving low for a try out of dummy-half.

The Dragons and the officials had no complaints with the challenge and Burgess' performance could put him in the frame for a place in the 17-man squad against Sydney Roosters on March 7.

Brother Sam said he was pleased with his younger sibling's progress, but warned he had a long way to go before he can consider himself to be an automatic selection.

"He's a big fella and has got a lot to work on his game, but the good thing is he knows that and is willing to do it," Burgess told AAP.

"He has the potential, but he is still a very young kid and I am looking forward to seeing him progress.

"He's stayed around the same weight, but he has leaned up which is really going to help him."

Souths coach Michael Maguire was giving nothing away when asked about the young bookend's display, but admitted it gives him plenty of selection headaches going into the new season.

"He went well and I was happy with him, as I was with a lot of players," Maguire said.

"I have a lot of decisions to make, but they are the sort you want to have as a coach."

George's identical twin brother Thomas became the fourth member of the Burgess clan to link up with Souths in the off-season and mother Julie has also made the move to join her boys in Sydney.

Luke, the eldest of the four is sidelined for six months with a shoulder injury but Sam said the newest arrival has made great strides since his transfer from Bradford.

"Thomas has done well, and fitted into the Australian lifestyle pretty easily," he said.

"He's just trying to work hard to crack into the first team here which is really hard.

"But it's nice and cosy having all the family here.

"The twins are living together, Luke is living with his girlfriend and my mum is living with me at the moment.

"She's loving it out here with all of us here. That makes it a lot easier."